And she does it because she knows all these young minds are counting on her.

Ziesmer said, “They are just so much fun and have so much energy and they are ready to learn, so I have to be ready to teach.”

She makes an effort to spend quality time with every student, to help them tackle whatever roadblocks they may be going through.

Siddell said, “She always wants you to do better and she helps us through when we don’t get it.”

Because after all, she’s still learning too.

“Kids feed off of that. They don’t want to be alone in the learning process, they want you to be with them.”

She said if they walk out of her class feeling like they’ve learned just one new thing that day, she’s done her job.

“I really want them to have a love for learning, I want them to be a learner. I don’t care if they’re the best math student in the world, but I want them to be a good person and I want them to know that they can problem solve and math is just a small part of it.”

“He always cracks jokes, and makes everyone laugh,” says freshman Ray Cataldo. “He teaches while making people laugh,” Cataldo was one of the students to nominate the GHV high school science teacher for the Golden Apple award this week.

Greiman has been teaching for nearly two decades, and says he prefers sticking to traditional lecturing approaches in the classroom rather than hands on activities, but every so often, he’ll incorporate labs and group projects into the mix. “I just like to be in front instructing,” he says. “I’m kind of an old-school teacher.”

During his time as an educator, Greiman tells us he has had some positive feedback from parents, teachers, and other faculty members, but he says that hearing from his students is a reward he’ll never forget. “Everybody is appreciated,” he explains, “but we don’t always know that, so it’s nice when people can show that they do appreciate you.”

Keyboard and Communications teacher, Megan Hansen knows that no one is perfect. She said, “If I model something, I make sure that I can show them that it’s perfectly fine to falter here and there.”

And that’s probably why her classroom has such an incredible energy. 8th grader Madison Kopp said, “She’s constantly making us laugh, and she’s teaching us amazing things and life lessons we’ll need to know.”

Mrs. Hansen said her goal is to teach her students those life lessons through countless activities.

“We do a lot of reading, and writing, and listening creative thinking. The kids like to do some readers theaters and performing, things like that.”

It’s all about building confidence and giving your best effort.

“If they don’t trust you, then they’re not going to do their best for you, and I don’t always expect my best from myself and I want them to have that standard for themselves as well.”

Some of her students are already feeling a positive impact. Kopp said, “She teaches us to never give up on our dreams and just keep going, even if we wanna give up.”

Whether it’s typing a thousand words per minute or nailing that speech, Mrs. Hansen wants her classroom to know they can take on any obstacle in their way.

“It’s fine. Everyone makes mistakes, and we all learn to roll with the punches.”

He said, “From a classroom account for Facebook and Twitter to a Wiki space to find information.”

His social studies classes are also a place to let creativity flow.

“I had students create their own political parties in which they could come up with the platform and the names of the candidates.”

All of those things combined help the lessons come to life.

Senior, Kaitlyn Varner said, “A lot of times we just read out of the book and just gets kind of boring and he changes it up, so were doing something different every day. You just learn a lot more when you’re doing something different.”

Mr. DeArmoun said his goal is for his students to have fun and understand the impact politics and history have on their world.

Varner said, “I’ve never really liked history at all, but taking government first semester was a lot of fun, because we just to learned a lot of different things about real life stuff.”

And as far as their futures, he has some pretty lofty goals.

“My hope is that someday, my former students will decide to run for political office of some type and I’ve already told my students that if I’m living in the area where they’re, running for a race I’m going to vote for them.”

Manly, Iowa – “He’s really fun and he just loves his job. That’s the best part.”

Scott Dobel has been teaching industrial technology at Central Springs for years, but he said his job never gets old.

“No day is ever the same. It’s constantly changing. There’s a new problem to solve or new project to figure out.”

He says he likes his classroom environment to feel like the students have freedom with guidelines.

“You can’t teach creativity, but you can help cultivate the process, so they can understand how to solve a problem and find different solutions.”

That’s exactly how the student’s like it.

9th Grader, Samuel Seiler said, “If you have a question about anything, he’ll help you and make sure you understand before you actually do it yourself.”

They like the easy-going feeling Mr. Dobel creates during class much more.

“He tells a lot of jokes in class and gets everyone smiling and laughing, and you can just tell he has a good time and that allows the students to have a good time.”

Mr. Dobel says as his students get more comfortable with the tools and their projects, he likes to let them and their imaginations take over.

“I think they gain so much more by teaching another student, and I think the student who gets helped truly appreciates it that a fellow student of theirs is taking time out of their day to help them get caught up.”

KIMT News 3 – It takes a whole lot of passion to teach the same subject for nearly 15 years, but it’s that passion for all things math that keeps Keely Schwiesow going.

She said, “Going through and seeing those aha moments that students have, like I get this, and it’s really okay to do math.”

She knows math may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but it’s something that demands respect.

“I’m not asking them to absolutely love the subject, but to appreciate it and know that it is stuff that they are going to use in their future and be able to do the things that they need to do in college to go to another level in different areas whatever they choose.”

10th Grader, John Patterson said Mrs. “S” is simply one of those teachers who wants to see her students learn.

“She lets you come in before school and you can just talk to her. She’ll come at 7:30 before school to give help and if you want, she’ll stay after school with you.”

And there’s just one reason she spends all that extra time in the classroom.

She said, “I want to be there for them and make sure they understand.”

Her main goal isn’t only to get her students to ace their tests now, but to make sure math is something their comfortable with down the road.

“I want that to be the easy part. I want them to understand and say, hey, I learned this stuff, I feel good about it, now I can move forward.”

It’s safe to say, these young minds are already making progress.

Patterson said, “Usually in my past, I’m not the guy that asks questions, but now since I’ve had Mrs. “S”, I’m just about every day coming in and asking questions to get better. My grade is a solid A, so that helps.”

“We’re preparing them for that next step, whatever that may be,” said Mr. White.

In fact, that’s his entire role as an Iowa Jobs for America’s Graduates instructor.

“We write resumes, cover letters, we do job interviews and, the students that are in the 11/12 program will have the opportunity to visit six different college campuses.”

His students are learning skills that will prepare them for their futures, however for the here and now, this class means so much more.

Senior, Rachel Bonnichsen said “He always makes sure that he talks to you, and asks what’s going on to see if he can do anything to help you.”

It’s that extra effort that’s leaving a lasting impression on his students.

“Mr. White is one of the kindest people I know. He’s a very generous person and he really cares about all the students in his care.”

Mr. White said the students are his favorite part of coming to work every day, and seeing them reach their goals is the ultimate reward.

“The kids had that potential in them all along, it’s just me facilitating it. The students have that greatness inside them already, and I just help bring it out.”

]]>http://kimt.com/2014/10/15/golden-apple-jeremy-white/feed/0Wed, 15 Oct 2014 18:44:09 +0000GA JEREMY WHITEkimtannieszatkowskiRecognizing area scholastic all-starshttp://kimt.com/2014/05/13/recognizing-area-scholastic-all-stars/
http://kimt.com/2014/05/13/recognizing-area-scholastic-all-stars/#commentsTue, 13 May 2014 22:13:58 +0000http://kimt.com/?p=49164]]>MASON CITY, Iowa – It was one big celebration of education on Tuesday as KIMT took time to recognize and honor high school seniors and teachers in our area for all of their accomplishments.

The Scholastic All-Stars and Golden Apple award luncheon was a big success as 42 schools were represented by students and faculty that go above and beyond in their classrooms every day.

Austin Poock, a senior from Hampton Dumont High School, was one of the many high school seniors being honored.

Poock says that he feels his hard work has paid off and that this event has given him the chance to meet other high schoolers who have worked just as hard as he has.

“It’s nice to know that there are other kids out there who are trying as hard as I am,” Poock says.

Forest City High School senior, Amanda Polk was another student being recognized today.

As she prepares for graduation, she says she’s been reflecting on her educational path and tells us that she couldn’t be more excited to dive into what’s ahead.

“Just to be able to go out there and know that I have a good education behind me and that my hard work has paid off…college will just be able to take me to that next step in my education and my life learning,” Polk says.

Their success wouldn’t have been possible without the support of their teachers, which is why we took the opportunity to recognize and honor them as well.

Each Tuesday we’ve honored educators from across north Iowa and southern Minnesota with the Golden Apple Award.

“There are so many talented teachers in our community, and in our state, and all over the world,” she says, “so to even be nominated for this award, is an honor, and to be awarded this award, I was totally shocked.”

This recognition couldn’t have come at a more perfect time as Schaub has announced that after 43 years of teaching, she is happily retiring.

Change is inevitable, so even though it might be nerve racking for those heading away from home for the first time, they’re looking forward to a brand new adventure it will bring.

The event wouldn’t have been possible without our Scholastic All-Star sponsors, Midwest Construction and Warner Stallion as well as our Golden Apple sponsors, NIACC and Window World.

]]>http://kimt.com/2014/05/13/recognizing-area-scholastic-all-stars/feed/0Wed, 14 May 2014 21:17:53 +0000Students honored for academic excellencekimtalliekrugGolden Apple: Nathan Muhshttp://kimt.com/2014/05/07/golden-apple-nathan-muhs/
http://kimt.com/2014/05/07/golden-apple-nathan-muhs/#commentsWed, 07 May 2014 11:38:20 +0000http://kimt.com/?p=48643]]>Third grade teacher Nathan Muhs is tackling some pretty tricky subjects in this class. From business and economics, to lessons on how to find good in everyone.

“You take a shoe, everyone has their shoe, the shoe goes in the middle of of the circle and you talk about how you’re the only one in that shoe. No one else has been in that shoe before and think about that shoes and where it’s been. So it’s just a mini lesson on being compassionate towards other people.”

But the serious stuff doesn’t come without it’s fare share of fun.

Muhs said, “Just be on their level for the day, be a kid! Spelling tests are my favorite part of the day, I don’t do it every day, but once in a while if I get a certain percentage in my class, then I do a handstand for the class if they get everything right on their test. Something for them to look forward to.”

One of the things Mr. Muhs’ students like best about him, is his never-give-up, go-get-em attitude.

3rd Grader Noah Bowers said, “When we’re struggling, he’s gonna push you so you can get better at it with whatever you’re doing.”

That outlook stems from his passion to connect with each student.

Muhs said, “Just being able to hit every child on every little bit of the spectrum, because they bring a little piece to you and you need to give back to them a bit too. So having high energy is number one.”

And he says, as long as the fun keeps rolling, the learning will follow.

“We have a lot of fun every day and if you can’t have fun at your job, where else could you do that at? If not, it might be time to take a step back and look at that.”